PEARLING for success

1. PEARLING for success Tuesday, 07 January 2020

2. Essay: How does Pope use language to engage the emotions of his readers? PEARLS are made from GRIT – it takes time and does not always work. GRIT is a synonym for hard work! P Make a POINT E Support it with EVIDENCE (a quotation) A ANALYSE the evidence R RESPOND to it personally/ as an audience L Link forward to next paragraph or back to the question

3. Point • Write a thesis statement that you go on to evidence with a quotation. (This statement can be lifted directly from your introduction, or re-phrased.) e.g. “Pope wants to show that the sirens are not only beautiful and enchanting, but also are violent and cruel killers.”

4. Evidence • Your evidence must support the point you are making! E.g. “Pope uses the word “rapting” to show how the sailors are caught by the sirens’singing with no chance of escape”.

5. Analysis You have a quotation. Analyse it by doing one or more of the following: • Comment on the vocabulary used • Comment on imagery • Use of punctuation? • Is there a literary technique being used? E.g. Pope has chosen this specific word because of its double connotations of “rapture” and of being the prey of a “raptor”. Both words share the same root and since a raptor is predatory by nature, the sirens are shown as cruel and violent killers.

6. Let’s check that: • Pope has chosen this specific word because of its double connotations of “rapture” and of being the prey of a “raptor”. Both words share the same root and since a raptor is predatory by nature, the sirens are shown as cruel and violent killers. Zooms in to discuss key word Links to point by establishing meaning and connotation Discussion of the word, shows understanding Q.E.D.

7. RESPONSE? • What is the audience’s (or your) emotional response? Here, it might be: • Recognising the threat • Feeling the fear • Sensing the cruelty and even imagining the appearance of the sirens

8. P+E+A+R+__ Pope wants to show that the sirens are not only beautiful and enchanting, but also are violent and cruel killers. Pope uses the word “rapting” to show how the sailors are caught by the sirens’ singing with no chance of escape. Pope has chosen this specific word because of its double connotations of “rapture” and of being the prey of a “raptor”. Both words share the same root and since a raptor is predatory by nature, the sirens are shown as cruel and violent killers. The effect on the reader is to convey the cruelty and beauty of the sirens to build up a sense of fear. The reader might also be able to imagine the appearance of the sirens as similar to birds of prey. How would you link this to another paragraph? Show me where you are going… Write the link to complete this paragraph.

9. Another idea: • Look at this passage and the comment made: • Think about the structure of these lines… Key passage highlighted in red

10. PEARL 2 • P: Pope uses enjambment to deliver the shocking truth about the sirens to the reader. • E: • A: “Mead” suggests a peaceful, rural location; this is supported by the “hedge” or “wall” around the mead; the surprise and shock is caused by the sudden appearance of the structure of the hedge – “dead men’s bones”. • R: The enjambment encourages the reader to relax as the lines flow one into another. The flow is brought to a sudden and shocking halt by the revelation of the bones.

11. Don’t forget your PEARLs, girls!But, boys: other forms of analysis are available, such as Peeing or Peeling.